2013 June Street Timaru

Surprise package – Polished gem with some stylish secrets

O’Neil Architecture designed this two level home for its steep, tricky site and to take in sweeping views of Timaru, the sea and mountains. The solid block masonry home with its walls of windows and glass balustrades does so impressively – and so much more. The views are also pretty impressive from the swimming pool squatting below the lower level.

But the real drama of this four-bedroom home lies inside. Coloured concrete and tiled feature walls provide a bold backdrop for some very unique effects. Super-sized, textured feature doors stand sentry in the stripped-back, black-and-white kitchen – an aesthetic echoed in the smart home office. In this home, shoe storage – so often a behind-doors necessity – has been brought into the light. In one bedroom, shoes are suspended against an illuminated wall panel transforming footwear into a feature. In another room, tiny lights which stud the wall add a starry effect.

There are also walk-in wardrobes in every bedrooms, a gym/home theatre, concrete floating stairs and large balconies on each floor. Diesel in-slab heating, heat pumps and a gas fire provide warmth. The exterior concrete is clad in Alucobond and the roof is ecoTuff membrane.